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(No Model.)

R. G. HOPSON. vELECTRIC TROLLBYSWITGH AND TRIP.

No. 442,623. Patented Dec. 16, 1890.

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UNITED STATE-s PATENT OEETCE.

RICHARD (l. HOPSON, OF SAGINAV, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRlC TROLLEY SWlTCH AND TRP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 442,623, dated December 16, 1890.

Application iiled May 5, 1890. Serial No. 350,722. (No model.)

T @ZZ whoml it may concern.'

Beit known that I, RICHARD C. HOPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw and State of Michigainhave invented certain new and usef ul Improvements in Electric Trolley Switches and Trips and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which forni apart of this specification.

VMy invention relates to an electric trolleyswitch; and its object is to provide a simple, safe, and inexpensive switch and junctiontrip. This I accomplish with the following` mechanism, viz:

Figure l is a side view of a right-hand switch. Fig. 2 is the reverse of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side view of switch with j unction-trip attached. Fig. It is a top view of switch. Fig. 5 is sectional ViewA of clamp C; Fig. 6, a sectional front view of trip E F. Fig. 7 is a sectional front view of connection B.

A is the switch-plate, which I make three and one-halt` feet long, three inches wideV at connection B, and at each end about one and one-half inch. The plate is one-twelfth of an inch thick. Of course any other size may be used. The lower edge of the plate A is convex, and the ends bow up, so that when the plate is fastened to the wires at B the ends will pass above the wires G and H and the body bow below.

G and II are electric trolley-wires. are clamped together by the clamp C.

C and O2 are holes in clamp C for guywires G. The switch-wire is raised above main wire II about two inches at point of entering` clamp O and is directly over it.

B is the connection-securing blade A to switch-wire G, and bowing over is clamped to wire H, as shown in Fig. 7. The plate A is also secured to switch-wire G at D.

K is the trolley-wheel, and .I is the trolleypole, both of the usual pattern. The switchplate A, being of steel and very thin, is quite flexible at its loose end L. The connection B holds the loose end L of switch-plate A against wire I-I. As the trolley runs along the They switch-plate to the other wire a left-handed switch would be made.

E is a hanger firmly secured to top of 'end of switch-plate A at L, extending downward, but far enough away from plate A to admit of free passage of trolley-wheel K.

F is the trip secured to trolley-pole through slot I, adapted to be raised or lowered, as desired. The trip F extends upward to and inside of E, then turns at right angles toward Y and across trolley-wheel K. From the point of its striking the projection E the trip widens toward the trolley K, so that as the trolley K passes along the wire toward the switchplate A it strikes the projection E, and the switch-plate is pulled away from the wire II, and the trolley passes freely on main line.

One special feature of my invention is the mechanism by which one wire is placed above the other, so that the trolley-wheel when coming in contact with the switch-plate isnot thrown down to any extent, as is usual, and often throwing it from the wire entirely. I make the connection and clamps of brass, so that the current is not interrupted.

I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to any special form or construction of plate or connection, and therefore any change may be made as comes within ordinary mechanical skill without departing from the principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. As a new article of manufacture, an electric trolley-switch and j unction-trip consisting of main wire and switch-wire clamped together at terminal of switch, the switch-wire over and a few inches above main wire, and a concave switch-plate extending from the junc- IOO tion of the wires, with one end pressed against the main wire, the other end secured to the switch-wire, the twoA wires being stayed by a brace at middle of switch-plate, the switchplate thus serving to divert the trolley upon the switch-wire, and the said switch-plate having at its point of junction with the main wire a hanger extending below the switch-plate and far enough from it to admit of the passage of the trolley-wheel, and being long enough to engage a trip that may be upon the trolley, whereby the switch-plate is pulled away from the main wire and the trolley allowed to pass the switch-plate without being diverted onto the switch-Wire, substantially as s et forth.

2. A switch for electric conductors, consisting of a main Wire H and a switch-wire G,.and the clamp C, secured to the main wire H, holding theswitch-wire G above the main wire Ijl and engaging it to the main wire II within the clamp C, and the concave switch-plate A, having one end secured to switch-wire G at I) andthe other end pressing against main wireI-I` at or near clamp C, the two wires and switch-plate being held rigidly in position by brace B, so that the concave edge of switchplate A is below wiresl Gand H,'operating to divert the trolley-wheel off of the 'main wire H onto the switch-wire G, substantially asset forth.

3. In au electric trolley-switch, the combination of the main wire and switchwire clarnped together at terminal of switch,\\f'ith theswitch-wire over and a few inches above the, main wire, with a concave switch-,plate with oneend pressed against the main wire near the clamp and theother endv secured to the.'switch-wire, the wires and switch-plate being held rigidly in position by a brace'connectiigthem in lniddle of switch-plate, Whereby thel trolley-wheel is diverted from main wi rel to, switch-wi re, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electric trolley-switch, the combination of the main wire II and switch-wire G, andthe clamp C, secured to main wire H and holding the switch-wire G a few inches above main wire H and engaging it to main wire II within clamp C, with the concave switch-plate the other end held against main wire and be- Y ing stayed by a brace at middle of switchplate and holding both wires rigidly, with a hanger. secured to the loose end of switchplate so as to admit of the free passage of trolley-wheel, and extending downward far enough to engage the trip on the trolleypole, and the trip secured to the trolley-Pme andv adapted to engage the hanger on the inside and push the hanger with the switchplate away from the main wire, and thus allow the trolley tol pass without. being diverted onto the switch-wire, substantially as described.v

G. In an electric trolley-switch, the coinbination of the main wire H and switch-Wire G and clamp C, holding switch-wire G above andengaging it to main wire H within the clamp C, and the switch-plate A, having one end loosely held against niain wirej H 'near clamp C and theother end secured to switchwire G and supported by brace B, rigidly holding main wire H and switch-wire GY and switch-plate A in position, and hanger E, secured to loose end of switch-plate A'and extending downward far enough to engagetrip F, with trip F secured to trolley-pole .I by means of slot I', adapted to be raised and lowered as desired, substantially as described, and for purposes set forth.

In testimonywhereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses RICHARD C. HOPSON.

lVitnesses;

J. T. PHILLIPS, JENNIE E. SACKRIDER. 

